IGNOU

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Hindi: इन्दिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय मुक्त विश्वविद्यालय is a national university with its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 when the Parliament of India passed the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985 (IGNOU Act 1985) ^.

IGNOU, one of the largest universities in the world  was founded to impart education by means of distance and open education, provide higher education opportunities particularly to the disadvantaged segments of society, to encourage, coordinate and set standards for distance and open education in India and strengthen the human resources of India through education . Apart from teaching and research, extension and training form the mainstay of its academic activities. It also acts as a national resource centre, and serves to promote and maintain standards of distance education in India. IGNOU hosts the Secretariats of the SAARC Consortium on Open and Distance Learning (SACODiL) and the Global Mega Universities Network (GMUNET) initially supported by UNESCO.

Past of the University    

In 1970 (International Education Year), the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the UGC and the Indian National Commission for cooperation with UNESCO, organised a seminar on `Open University’. The seminar recommended the establishment of an open university in India on an experimental basis. The Government of India appointed eight member working group on Open University in 1974. The leading role was given to G. Parthasarathi, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University.In 1985 the Union Government made a policy statement for establishment of a national open university. A Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Education to chalk out the plan of action of the national Open University. On the basis of the report of the Committee, the Union Government introduced a Bill in the Parliament. In August 1985, both the Houses of the Parliament passed the Bill. Subsequently, the National Open University came into existence on September 20, 1985. It was named after late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (established by the Act of Parliament) is responsible for introducing and promoting distance education at the university level, and for coordinating, determining and maintaining standards in such systems functioning in the country.

IGNOU’s prominent features:

• National jurisdiction
• Relaxed admission rules
• Flexibility in terms of place, pace and duration of study
• Flexibility in choosing the combination of courses
• Student support services
• Use of specially prepared course materials
• Use of latest communication technologies
• Cost effective programmes
• Modular programmes
• Reformed mode of evaluation
• Two term-end examinations in a year
• Resource sharing, collaboration and networking with other open universities/distance learning institutions
• Training and research in distance education.

SCHOOLS  OF IGNOU

• 1. School of Humanities
• 2. School of Social Sciences
• 3. School of Sciences
• 4. School of Education
• 5. School of Continuing Education
• 6. School of Engineering & Technology
• 7. School of Management Studies
• 8. School of Health Sciences
• 9. School of Computer & Information Sciences
• 10. School of Agriculture
• 11. School of Law
• 12. School of Journalism and New Media Studies
• 13. School of Gender and Development Studies
• 14. School of Tourism Hospitality Service Sectoral Management
• 15. School of Interdisciplinary and Trans-disciplinary Studies
• 16. School of Social Work
• 17. School of Vocational Education and Training
• 18. School of Extension and Development Studies
• 19. School of Foreign Languages
• 20. School of Translation Studies and Training
• 21. School of Performing and Visual Arts
• 22. School of Computer and desigining

Accreditation & Recognition

IGNOU is granted the authority to confer degrees by Clause 5(1)(iii) of the IGNOU Act 1985. IGNOU is also recognised as a Central University by the University Grants Commission of India ^. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognises IGNOU conferred degrees as on par with the degrees conferred by its members  and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) recognises the Master of Computer Applications and Master of Business Administration program of IGNOU ^.

In 1993, IGNOU was designated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) as its first Centre of Excellence for Distance Education empowered “to actively participate in Commonwealth co-operative endeavours to identify, nurture, and strengthen open learning institutions throughout the Commonwealth, particularly in the Third World ..” .

IGNOU also operates as an accreditor for open university and distance education systems in India through the Distance Education Council (DEC). Authority to do so is granted under Clause 16 and Statute 28 of the IGNOU Act 1985 .

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